Joni Ensio Kauko (born 12 July 1990) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan and the Finland national team.[1][2] Kauko was born in Turku, Finland where he played for the local youth teams before starting his senior career in Inter Turku at age 17 in 2008.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joni Ensio Kauko | ||
| Date of birth | 12 July 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Turku, Finland | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | ATK Mohun Bagan | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2001 | Runosmäen Nappulat | ||
| 2002–2005 | TPS | ||
| 2006–2009 | Inter Turku | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2012 | Inter Turku | 98 | (10) |
| 2013 | Lahti | 9 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | FSV Frankfurt | 48 | (3) |
| 2015–2016 | Energie Cottbus | 34 | (4) |
| 2016–2018 | Randers | 51 | (3) |
| 2018–2021 | Esbjerg | 91 | (22) |
| 2021– | ATK Mohun Bagan | 26 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006 | Finland U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Finland U18 | 11 | (0) |
| 2009 | Finland U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Finland U21 | 23 | (3) |
| 2012– | Finland | 28 | (0) |
Medal record | |||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:00, 2 January 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 June 2021 | |||
Kauko made his international debut for Finland in January 2012, at the age of 21. He was a regular member of the team that won League C group 2 in 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.
Club career
A product of local Inter Turku's youth system, Kauko signed his professional contract on 27 November 2007 at the age of 17. He made his Veikkausliiga debut six months later on 26 June 2008 against IFK Mariehamn. During his first season with the Turku-based club, he made only eight appearances, but helped his team to win the Finnish championship. He scored his first senior goal for Inter on 3 May 2009 against MYPA. After representing Inter for five seasons, his contract was not renewed after the 2012 season and he signed with FC Lahti for one season.[3]
Six months after signing with Lahti, it was announced that Kauko had signed a two-year contract with an option to a third, with German 2. Bundesliga side FSV Frankfurt.[4] Upon expiry of his contract with FSV Frankfurt Kauko signed a two-year contract with German 3. Liga side FC Energie Cottbus.[5]
In July 2016, Kauko signed a two-year contract with Danish club Randers FC.[6] Two years later, on 28 June 2018, Kauko signed a contract with Esbjerg fB ahead of the 2018–19 Danish Superliga season.[7]
ATK Mohun Bagan
On 24 June 2021, shortly after Finland's elimination from the Euro 2020, Kauko joined Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan on a two-year deal, making him the first ever major international footballer to play in India while still representing the national team.[8][9][10] He was included in the twenty-two men squad by head coach Antonio Lopez Habas for the team's 2021 AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinal match against Uzbek side Nasaf,[11] but they lost 6–0 and were eliminated from the tournament, in which he made his debut for the club.[12][13]
On 19 November, Kauko made his Indian Super League debut against Kerala Blasters, in a 4–2 win.[14][15] He scored his first goal for the club against NorthEast United, on 12 February, in a 3–1 win. He fired home from outside the box, which left goalkeeper Subhasish Chowdhury rooted to the spot.[16][17] He ended the league season with three goals in twenty appearances, as Mohun Bagan AC finished third in the standings and were eliminated in the semi-final playoffs.[18]
Kauko scored a brace each against Blue Star, on 12 April, and against Maziya S&RC on 24 May in AFC Cup Preliminary round and Group stage respectively.[19] As 2022–23 season began, he appeared with the club on 20 August against Rajasthan United at the 131st edition of Durand Cup, but lost the match by 3–2.[20]
International career
Kauko was a regular member for the Finland's U21 during 2009–2012, making in total of 23 appearances and scoring three goals. He has also served as a captain for the Finland U-21 team.
He made his senior debut on 22 January 2012, in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.[21] During Finland's qualification campaign for the UEFA Euro 2016 he was a member of the team in 8 matches but remained as an unused substitute.[22] In 2018–19 UEFA Nations League he gained four caps and was in the starting line up on 15 November 2018 in a match against Greece.[23]
Kauko was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.[24]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 24 May 2022[25]
| Club | Season | Division | League | National Cups | Continental | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Sinimustat | 2008 | Kakkonen | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 7 |
| Inter Turku | 2008 | Veikkausliiga | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 21 | 3 | ||
| 2010 | 16 | 0 | 7[b] | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2011 | 31 | 3 | 6[b] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 4 | ||
| 2012 | 24 | 4 | 6[b] | 1 | 2[c] | 0 | 32 | 5 | ||
| Inter Turku Total | 98 | 10 | 19 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 123 | 12 | ||
| FC Lahti | 2013 | Veikkausliiga | 9 | 0 | 8[b][d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| FSV Frankfurt | 2013–14 | 2. Bundesliga | 27 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | 21 | 3 | 1[e] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | ||
| FSV Frankfurt Total | 48 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 3 | ||
| Cottbus | 2015–16 | 3. Liga | 34 | 4 | 1[e] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 4 |
| Randers | 2016–17 | Superliga | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| 2017–18 | 29 | 2 | 1[f] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||
| Randers Total | 51 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 3 | ||
| Esbjerg | 2018–19 | Superliga | 35 | 8 | 2[f] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 9 |
| 2019–20 | 30 | 6 | 2[f] | 1 | 2[c] | 0 | 34 | 7 | ||
| 2020–21 | Danish 1st Division | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 8 | |
| Esbjerg Total | 91 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 24 | ||
| ATK Mohun Bagan | 2021–22 | Indian Super League | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6[g] | 4 | 26 | 7 |
| 2022–23 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||
| Mohun Bagan SG Total | 26 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 9 | ||
| Career total | 367 | 52 | 36 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 417 | 60 | ||
- ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
- ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Finnish League Cup
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearance(s) in Suomen Cup
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in DFB-Pokal
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Danish Cup
- ^ Appearance(s) in AFC Cup
International
| National team | Year | Competitive | Friendly | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Finland | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 16 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
Honours and achievements
Club
- Inter Turku
- FC Lahti
References
- ^ Randers henter finsk landsholdsspiller, bold.dk, 9 July 2016
- ^ "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Joni Kauko Interistä FC Lahteen" (in Finnish). ESS.fi. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Joni Kauko siirtyy Saksaan" (in Finnish). YLE.fi. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Kauko wechselt zu Cottbus" [Kauko transfers to Cottbus] (in German). kicker. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "FINSK LANDSHOLDSSPILLER TIL RANDERS FC" [Finnish international player joins Randers] (in Danish). Randers FC. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "EfB henter Kauko" [EfB picks up Kauko] (in Danish). Esbjerg fB. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan sign Finland midfielder Kauko just days after Euro 2020 campaign". The Times Of India. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "ISL: Mohun Bagan AC rope in Finland international midfielder Joni Kauko". Goal.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ ISL 2020-21: ATK Mohun Bagan signs Finnish international Joni Kauko from Euro 2020 sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021
- ^ Kauko included in ATK Mohun Bagan squad The Hindu. Retrieved 18 September 2021
- ^ "AFC Cup: ATK Mohun Bagan ousted after 0-6 drubbing at hands of FC Nasaf". First Post. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Nasaf 0 – 6 ATK Mohun Bagan". Soccerway. 22 September 2021.
- ^ "Hugo Boumous brace as ATKMB rout Kerala Blasters in ISL opener". KhelNow. 19 November 2021.
- ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan 4 – 2 Kerala Blasters". Soccerway. 19 November 2021.
- ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan extend unbeaten run with NorthEast United win". KhelNow. 12 February 2022.
- ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan 3 – 1 NorthEast United". Soccerway. 12 February 2022.
- ^ "Hyderabad FC edge past ATK Mohun Bagan on aggregate, reach first-ever ISL final". KhelNow. 16 March 2022.
- ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan thrash Blue Star SC to book AFC Cup playoffs spot". KhelNow. 12 April 2022.
- ^ Bhattacharjee, Neeladri (20 August 2022). "Durand Cup HIGHLIGHTS ATK Mohun Bagan loses 2–3 to Rajasthan United, ATKMB vs RUFC; Mariners lose first match". sportstar.thehindu.com. Kolkata, West Bengal: Sportstar. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "Joni Kauko: Toivottavasti näitä tilaisuuksia tulee jatkossa useamminkin" (in Finnish). suomifutis.com. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Tällä ryhmällä Huuhkajat lähtee hakemaan Kansojen liigan lohkovoittoa – Kauko ja Granlund avauksessa" [With this group the Eagle Owls aim for a group win in the Nations League - Kauko and Granlund in opening] (in Finnish). Yle. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Näillä pelaajilla Huuhkajat lähtevät kohti EM-kisoja – kaksi nimeä kiinnostivat yli muiden" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ Joni Kauko at Soccerway
- ^ "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). palloliitto.fi. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Joni Kauko at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
- Randers FC official profile (in Danish)
- Joni Kauko Archived 8 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine at FSV Frankfurt (in German)
- Joni Kauko – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Joni Kauko – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Joni Kauko at National-Football-Teams.com
- Joni Kauko at Soccerbase
- Joni Kauko at fussballdaten.de (in German)
- Guardian Football at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 September 2012)
